Chapter 15.02 DEFINITIONS

The city of Richland hereby adopts by reference Chapter 173-350 WAC, as currently enacted or hereafter amended, including the definitions provided therein. The following definitions are made to supplement and supersede any conflicting definitions found in Chapter 173-350 WAC. Generally, words used in the present tense shall include the future tense; the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular; and the masculine shall include the feminine gender. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.010 Administrative notice of violation.

“Administrative notice of violation” means a notice issued by the director that identifies a violation of RMC 15.03.020(B), (D) through (M) and/or RMC 15.03.030(B) through (F) and directs corrective action, which may include imposition of up to a $100.00 fine and/or revocation of the city’s solid waste container and service. An administrative notice of violation is distinguished from a notice of civil violation issued pursuant to RMC 10.02.050 and adjudicated by the Richland code enforcement board. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.015 Ashes.

“Ashes” means the solid waste products produced after the combustion of coal, wood and other fuels, and other combustible materials. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.020 City.

“City” means the city of Richland. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.025 City council.

“City council” means the city council of the city of Richland. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.030 City manager.

“City manager” means the city manager of the city of Richland. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.035 Commercial or commercial dwelling.

“Commercial” or “commercial dwelling” means a building or group of buildings designed, intended for or used for any purpose other than single or multiple dwellings, and shall include office buildings. Any building or group of buildings where combined residence and business is practiced, where such business is advertised by a sign of any type on the premises and/or is identified as a business in online platforms, except those businesses conducted in an approved home occupation or otherwise exempted by the city, shall be classified as a commercial dwelling. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.040 Construction waste.

“Construction waste” means any debris generated during the construction, renovation and/or demolition of buildings, roads and bridges. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.045 Container.

“Container” means a receptacle which is the type approved by the city and furnished by the city for use with its mechanical refuse collection system. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.050 Curbside.

“Curbside” means the placing of containers on or near public right-of-way that allows for pickup from said public right-of-way. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.055 Dead animals.

“Dead animals” means all animals, large or small, which may die or be killed for other than food purposes. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.060 Director.

“Director” means the city of Richland’s public works director or designee. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.065 Extra refuse.

“Extra refuse” means refuse that does not fit within a customer’s container and is placed beside the container in a bag or box. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.070 Individual duplex.

“Individual duplex” means a duplex which is not part of a group of buildings under common ownership and which has a separate legal description. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.075 Multiple dwelling.

“Multiple dwelling” means a building or group of buildings, except those defined as individual duplexes herein, designed as, or intended for, or used as two or more dwellings, such as apartments, rooming houses, multiple houses or courts and tenant houses; provided such buildings or group of buildings are under common ownership; and provided further, that such group of buildings by nature of construction or reference infer multiplex dwelling, except tourist courts, motels, hotels and trailer courts, or other establishments catering to transient residents; and provided that, for the purpose of this title, three rooms shall be equal to one apartment and any number of rooms shall be billed to the nearest multiple of three. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.080 Offal.

“Offal” means waste animal matter from butcher, slaughterer or packing houses. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.085 Overloaded container.

“Overloaded container” means a commercial container in which material has been placed to a height that exceeds the top of the container walls. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.090 Recycling service charge.

“Recycling service charge” means the charge imposed by the city council for recycling services performed by the solid waste utility or its authorized representatives. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.095 Refuse.

“Refuse” means garbage, rubbish, trash and offal, as defined in this chapter, placed and stored together in a standard refuse container. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.100 Residential.

“Residential” means a building or separate living unit designed and intended for occupancy as a dwelling and having its own housekeeping and kitchen facilities. Single-family residences, apartment units, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and condominium units shall be considered residential units. Hotel, motel and rooming and boarding units designed primarily for transient tenancy shall not be considered residential units, but shall be subject to commercial charges. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.105 Residential waste.

“Residential waste” means yard waste, normal household waste, garbage, refuse or rubbish in quantities anticipated from normal daily activities from a residence, including, but not limited to, construction and demolition waste and extra refuse. Such waste does not include waste delivered to the landfill in any type of commercial vehicle identified by a sign, insignia, or decal with a commercial business name, or any waste delivered to the landfill in a vehicle greater than one ton in carrying capacity. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.110 Richland resident.

“Richland resident” means an occupant of a residence within Richland city limits, verifiable using a current government-issued identification or utility account verification. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.115 Richland commercial customer.

“Richland commercial customer” means an occupant meeting the “commercial” or “commercial dwelling” definition herein, that receives refuse service from the city of Richland or a city-authorized solid waste collection service provider at their brick and mortar Richland address and pays a monthly refuse bill to one of these providers. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.120 Sanitation service charge or service charge.

“Sanitation service charge” or “service charge” means a charge imposed by the city council for the services performed by the solid waste utility or its authorized representatives. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.125 Single-family unit.

“Single-family unit” means a building designed as, or intended for, or used as a residence for a single family or a group of persons other than a single family using the building as a single housekeeping unit. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.130 Trash.

“Trash” means all waste matter not subject to decay or putrefaction which, for the purpose of this title, includes ashes. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.135 Unsecured load.

“Unsecured load” means a load of waste, refuse, trash or similar materials which has not been tied, covered, or secured in the vehicle in such a manner that will prevent any part of the waste from leaving, dropping or escaping the vehicle while the vehicle is in motion. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.140 Waste.

“Waste” means all discarded materials and/or substances. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].

15.02.145 Yard waste.

“Yard waste” means leaves, grass, prunings and clippings of woody as well as fleshy plants. Yard waste does not include dirt and rocks. Small trees and Christmas trees will be considered yard waste if they have been cut and bundled to a maximum length of four feet. [Ord. 38-21 § 1].